Icebreaker and waterway with icebreaker

ABSTRACT

An icebreaker main body  16  in which an expandable/shrinkable film body  18  is fixed, by fittings, to a wall surface  14  of a canal  10  is provided near a gate. When an ice  36  is formed in the vicinity of the surface of water  34  of the canal  10,  air is supplied from a compressor  32  into the expandable/shrinkable film body  18  to inflate the expandable/shrinkable film body  18.  The ice  36  is crashed due to a pressure applied from the inflating expandable/shrinkable film body  18,  whereby the gate can be opened/closed smoothly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an icebreaker which can break throughice formed when water at a channel is frozen, and to a channel havingthe icebreaker.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, steel gates are disposed at a channel such as a canal inorder to open/close the channel (See Document 1)

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application (JP-A) Laid-Open No.    2002-285533.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Typically, power outputted from a motor or the like is used in order toopen/close gates. However, when water at a channel is frozen in wintertime, it often becomes difficult to open/close the gates smoothly.

It is considered that certain types of apparatuses may be used in orderto break through the ice. However, the operation requires much time andlabors, and a high cost performance as well, which is not practical.Besides, it will take considerable time to open/close the gates.

As a result of assiduous study for solving such a problem as describedabove with a conventional art, the present inventors have now completedthe present invention. An object of the invention is to provide anicebreaker having a simple structure for breaking through ice formed ata channel, and a channel having the icebreaker.

Means for Solving the Problems

The invention according to claim 1 is an icebreaker for breaking throughan ice formed at a channel, comprising an expandable/shrinkable filmbody which is disposed along a wall surface of the channel, a fixingmember for fixing the expandable/shrinkable film body to the wallsurface, and an air-supply means for supplying air to between theexpandable/shrinkable film body and the wall surface to inflate theexpandable/shrinkable film body at the channel inner side.

Next, an operation of the icebreaker according to claim 1 will bedescribed.

At an ordinary time, the expandable/shrinkable film body is disposedalong the wall surface of the channel.

When temperature goes down, and for example, ice is formed on the watersurface of the channel, the air supplying means is operated to inflatethe extendable and/or contractive film body.

As a result, ice formed on the water surface is pressed by the inflatingexpandable/shrinkable film body and crashed (broken).

After the expandable/shrinkable film body has been used, air isdischarged from the expandable/shrinkable film body so that theexpandable/shrinkable film body recovers its original shape such that itis disposed along the water surface of the channel.

The invention according to claim 2 is the icebreaker according to claim1, further comprising a lower film body provided in close contact withthe wall surface, wherein the air-supplying means supplies air tobetween the expandable/shrinkable film body and the lower film body.

Next, an operation of the icebreaker according to claim 2 will bedescribed.

In accordance with the icebreaker according to claim 2, air is suppliedto between the expandable/shrinkable film body and the lower film bodyto thereby inflate the expandable/shrinkable film body.

Since air is supplied to between the expandable/shrinkable film body andthe under film body, air tightness is significantly improved.

Claim 3 is a channel provided with an ice breaker, comprising a channel,a gate for opening/closing the channel, and the ice breaker according toclaim 1 or 2 disposed near the gate of the channel.

Next, an operation of the channel having the icebreaker according toclaim 3 will be described.

When temperature goes down, and ice is formed on the water surface invicinities of the gates, the air-supplying means is operated to inflatethe expandable/shrinkable means.

As a result, ice formed on the water surface is pressed by the inflatingexpandable/shrinkable means, and crashed (broken), whereby the gates canbe opened/closed.

Effect of the Invention

As described above, the icebreaker of the present invention can providean excellent effect in that, with a simple structure, the icebreaker canbreak through ice formed at a channel.

Further, since the channel having the icebreaker of the presentinvention is structured as described above, an excellent effect isprovided in that, with a simple structure, ice formed at a channel canbe broken to open/close the gates freely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a canal according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the canal;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an ice breaker main body;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an expandable/shrinkable film body;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion at which theexpandable/shrinkable film body is attached;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an icebreaker main body;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a canal in a state in which the icebreaker hasbeen inflated;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the canal showing a state in whichice deposited at the surface of the expandable/shrinkable film body isbeing peeled off therefrom;

FIG. 9(A) is a cross-sectional view of an icebreaker main body accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9(B) is a front view of an edge portion of an air pipe;

FIG. 10 is a front view of an ice breaker main body according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a canal according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

With reference to the drawings, a channel provided with an icebreakeraccording to a first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 2, a canal 10 is equipped with a gate 12 which isopened/closed in a direction of arrow C. In FIG. 2, the gate 12 drawn bya solid line represent a closed state of the canal 10, while the gate 12drawn by a double-dashed line represents an opened state thereof.

Wall surfaces 14 are formed by a material such as a concrete, anddisposed at both sides of the canal 10. Icebreaker main bodies 16 areformed at the wall surfaces 14, respectively, at a side to which thegate 12 is opened.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each icebreaker main body 16 has arectangular expandable/shrinkable film body 18 which is elongated in thehorizontal direction (direction of arrow B in FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 4, the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 is formed asa canvas-like member in which fabric materials 19 a and 19 b are wovenin warp/weft directions and covered with an elastic member 21 such as arubber provided thereon. The fabric materials 19 a arranged in a warpdirection (direction of arrow A corresponding to the vertical directionof the canal 10) extends in a wavy manner, and the fabric materials 19 barranged in a weft direction (direction of arrow B corresponding to thehorizontal direction of the canal 10) extend substantially linearly.

Consequently, the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 is not stretched somuch in the direction of arrow B but can be stretched well in thedirection of arrow A due to a linear expansion of the fabric materials19 a.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a built-in fitting 20 is disposed along anouter peripheral edge of the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 on eachwall surfaces 14, and anchor bolts 22 are also arranged thereon so as tobe spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval thereon.

The anchor bolts 22 are inserted into holes 15 formed on the wallsurface 14. Due to a solidification of an adhesive (such as an epoxyresin) 17 with which the holes 15 are filled, the anchor bolts 22 arefixed to the wall surface 14.

Further, the anchor bolts 22 are passed through the built-in fitting 20.

An end portion of the extendable and/or contractive film body 18 isdisposed on the built-in fitting 20, and the anchor bolts 22 are passedthrough the expandable/shrinkable film body 18.

Tap fittings 24 are mounted on the expandable/shrinkable film body 18.Nuts 26 are screwed, through spring washers 25, onto upper end portionsof the anchor bolts 22 which are passed through the tap fittings 24. Theouter peripheral edge portion of the expandable/shrinkable film body 18is thus nipped between the tap fittings 24 and the built-in fitting 20,and fixed to the wall surface 14.

As shown in FIG. 6, an air pipe 28 is embedded in the wall surface 14.

One end of the air pipe 28 is open toward the wall surface 14 to facethe inner surface of the expandable/shrinkable film body 18.

To the other side of the air pipe 28 are mounted an air-supply valve 30,an air-discharge valve 31, a compressor 32, a check valve 33, a pressuregage 34, and an open/close valve 35.

When the air-discharge valve 31 is closed and the air-supply valve 30 isopened, air can be supplied from the compressor 32 into theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18, and when the air-discharge valve 31is opened, air can be discharged from the expandable/shrinkable filmbody 18.

Moreover, the check valve 33 and the pressure gage 34 which areinstalled at the air pipe 28 are controlled to prevent a reverse flow ofthe supplied air and an excessive pressure. Pressure is checked byopening the open/close valve 35.

Further, for the convenience in use, motor valves can be used as theair-supply valve 30 and the air-discharge valve 31.

(Operation)

Next, an operation of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at an ordinary time, theexpandable/shrinkable film bodies 18 are disposed along the wallsurfaces 14 of the canal 10. Accordingly, the gate 12 can beopened/closed smoothly.

A water level of the canal 10 according to the present embodimentchanges in a horizontal direction. In FIG. 1, a water level 34 a drawnby a solid line shows a high water level, and a water level 34 b drawnby a double-dashed line shows a low water level.

For example, when the water level is high at the water level 34 a andthe temperature has dropped while the gate 12 is closed, whereby, asshown in FIG. 6, an ice 36 has been formed on the water surface 34 ofthe canal 10, air is supplied from the compressor 32 to theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18 is inflated.

For example, in a case in which the expandable/shrinkable film body 18is sized to a width of 3200 mm×a length of 915 mm, if the pressurewithin the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 is about 30.0 Kpa, theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18 may be inflated by about 300 mm atthe central portion thereof.

By this, the ice 36 which is formed on the water surface of the water 34is pressed by the inflating expandable/shrinkable film body 18 andcrashed, whereby the gate 12 can be opened/closed smoothly.

Since the working operation for crashing the ice 36 requires only theoperations of the compressor 32, the air-supply valve 30 and theair-discharge valve 31, the ice 36 can be crashed easily.

Needless to say, the icebreaker main body 16 must be set so as to meetthe level of the water at which the ice 36 is formed, and theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18 must be measured so as to reliablybreak the ice 36.

After the use of the expandable/shrinkable film body 18, air isdischarged from the expandable/shrinkable film body 18, whereby theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18 recovers its original shape such thatit is disposed along the wall surface 14.

Since the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 is deformed or expanded byinflation, the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 thus inflated isreturned to the original flat shape by itself or by the shrinking forcethereof when the air inside the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 isdischarged.

Further, air within the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 can beforcibly discharged by using a pump or the like.

As shown in FIG. 8, there is a possibility that the ice 36 is depositedto the surface of the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 itself. In sucha case, it suffices to simply inflate the expandable/shrinkable filmbody 18 in order to peel off and drop the ice 36 from theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18.

In the present embodiment, the icebreaker main body 16 is disposed onlyat the side to which the gate 12 is opened. However, the icebreaker mainbody 16 may further be added at the other side of the gate 12.

Further, it is preferable to attach in advance a pressure control valve(not shown) to the compressor 32 in order to prevent an unnecessarilyhigh pressure from acting on the expandable/shrinkable film member 18.

Second Embodiment

With reference to the drawing, a channel having an icebreaker accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention will be described next.Further, portions identical to those in the first embodiment of thepresent invention are denoted by the same reference numerals anddescriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9(A), in the icebreaker main body 16 according to thepresent embodiment, a lower film body 38, which is formed from anelastic body such as a rubber and which has the same size as that of theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18, is provided so as to be in closecontact with the wall surface 14, and the expandable/shrinkable filmbody 18 is mounted on the lower film body 38.

Since no inflation of the lower film body 38 is carried out, it isunnecessary for the lower film body 38 to be capable of expanding as isthe case with the expandable/shrinkable film body 18.

Further, both the lower film body 38 and the expandable/shrinkable filmbody 18 are nipped between the built-in fitting 20 and the tap fittings24, and fixed to the wall surface 14.

As shown in FIG. 9(B), a flat donut-shaped fastening member 40 isembedded in the wall surface 14 at the end portion of the air pipe 28.

A female thread 42 is formed at the inside of the flat donut-shapedfastening member 40, and a male thread 46 of a tap fitting 44 is screwedthrough the lower film body 38 and a washer 45 into the female screw 42.

The tap fitting 44 has a disk-shaped flange 48 whose diameter is largerthan that of an annular seal rib 47 of the tap fitting 40, and the lowerfilm body 38 is nipped between the tap fitting 40 and the washer 45.

A through hole 50 for air communication is formed at the axial coreportion of the tap fitting 44.

In the present embodiment, the expandable/shrinkable film body 18 isbrought into contact with the lower film body 38 as an elastic body, anda space into which air is blown is positioned between theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18 as an elastic body and the lower filmbody as an elastic body. Thus, air tightness is very high and leakage ofair can be reliably prevented.

Consequently, the present invention can be suitably used when cracks areformed on the wall surface 14.

Another Embodiment

In the above-described embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, theexpandable/shrinkable film body 18 before being inflated has a flatrectangular configuration whose four corners have been chamfered.However, the flat configuration of the expandable/shrinkable film body18 is not limited to this, and, as shown in FIG. 10, it can be formedinto another configuration such as a substantially O-shaped or anellipsoidal configuration.

Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, a recessed portion 52 foraccommodating the gate 12 is formed at the wall surface 14 of the canal10, and the icebreaker main body 16 is provided at the recessed portion52. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the recessed portion 52 need not beformed at the wall surface 14.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

The present invention can be applied, when water in a channel is frozenin winter time, in order to break ice formed at the channel with asimple structure so that a gate provided at the channel can beopened/closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 channel-   12 gate-   16 icebreaker main body (ice breaker)-   28 air pipe (icebreaker)-   30 air-supply valve (icebreaker)-   31 air-discharge valve (icebreaker)-   32 compressor (icebreaker)-   33 check valve (icebreaker)

1. An icebreaker for breaking through an ice formed at a channel,comprising an expandable/shrinkable film body which is disposed along awall surface of the channel; a fixing member for fixing theexpandable/shrinkable film body to the wall surface; and an air-supplymeans for supplying air to between the expandable/shrinkable film bodyand the wall surface to inflate the expandable/shrinkable film body atthe channel inner side.
 2. The icebreaker according to claim 1, furthercomprising a lower film body provided in close contact with the wallsurface, wherein the air-supplying means supplies air into between theexpandable/shrinkable film body and the lower film body.
 3. A channelprovided with an ice breaker, comprising: a channel; a gate foropening/closing the channel; and the ice breaker according to claim 1disposed near the gate of the channel.